Sookmyung Women's University researchers identify potential treatment for rare muscle disease SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - A research team led by Professor Kim Ju-mee at Sookmyung Women's University's Division of Pharmacy has identified a new pathological mechanism for GNE myopathy, a rare muscle disorder, and proposed a potential treatment strategy. By analyzing the genetic pathways of the disease, the team discovered that an existing drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration could be repurposed to restore cellular functions that are impaired by the condition April 22, 2026

Kookmin University team demonstrates quantum-secured satellite communication system SEOUL, April 22 (AJP) - A research team led by Professor Lee Ok-yeon at Kookmin University in South Korea has successfully implemented and verified a next-generation security system that combines low Earth orbit satellite communication with quantum-resistant cryptography. Working alongside Arion Communication, the team developed a hybrid structure designed to protect data across both wired and wireless connections. The technology integrates Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) for groun April 22, 2026

Severance University Hospital reaches 50,000 robotic surgeries, setting global milestone SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - Severance University Hospital said Tuesday it has performed 50,000 robot-assisted surgeries, becoming the first single institution in the world to reach the milestone. It comes about 28 months after it hit 40,000 cases, having reached 10,000 in 2013, 20,000 in 2018, and 30,000 in 2021 since pioneering robotic surgery in South Korea in 2005. According to the hospital in Seoul, 12 surgical robots and two training robots are in use, five of which are single April 21, 2026

S. Korean scholar pitches trust operating system as algorithms absorb human workflows SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - Artificial intelligence generated nearly 29 percent of new Python scripts in the United States by early 2025. That metric triggered a silent panic across enterprise software sectors, marking the onset of what industry insiders call the SaaS (software-as-a-service)-pocalypse. Software is no longer just a functional tool waiting for a human click. Machine intelligence is actively moving to absorb complete cognitive workflows, seizing the power of judgment from h April 21, 2026

S.Korea bio clinical trials surge in Q1, half near commercialization SEOUL, April 21 (AJP) - South Korea approved more than 50 biopharmaceutical clinical trials in the first quarter of 2026, with late-stage candidates accounting for the majority of the pipeline, according to the Korea Biomedicine Industry Association. The association revealed Tuesday that 53 trials received approval between January and March, averaging about 17.7 approvals per month. Multinational trials dominated the period, comprising about 87 percent of the total, or 46 cases. April 21, 2026

South Korean names missing from Forbes' AI 50 list SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - No South Korean company made Forbes' list of the world's "most promising privately held" companies in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). According to the magazine's "AI 50" list, released last week, U.S. startups dominated the list, with only two from Sweden and one each from Canada and the U.K. No Asian companies were included with none from South Korea. The annual list of top AI companies, now in its eighth year, w April 20, 2026

South Korean researchers develop wrinkle-free technology for foldable displays SEOUL, April 20 (AJP) - A research team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology has developed a core technology that fundamentally eliminates the wrinkle problem in foldable smartphone displays by redesigning the adhesive areas between the screen and its support plate, the prominent science institute said Monday. According to the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), the new technique ensures that folding stress is distributed across the dev April 20, 2026

Kookmin University professor develops framework to make image generation AI safer SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - Professor Kim Min-gyu at Kookmin University (KMU) has developed a unified framework to ensure the safety of artificial intelligence models that generate images and videos. The research, which addresses issues like copyright protection and harmful content, has been selected for an oral presentation at the International Conference on Learning Representations (ICLR) 2026. Kookmin University (KMU) said Friday. Professor Kim Min-gyu worked as the lead author on April 17, 2026

Sookmyung Women's University and Korea University Guro Hospital partner for medical research SEOUL, April 17 (AJP) - Sookmyung Women's University Research & Business Development Foundation and the Research Institute of Women's Health signed an agreement with Korea University Guro Hospital to collaborate on the research and treatment of incurable diseases. The partnership aims to build a cooperative ecosystem involving universities, research institutes, and hospitals to accelerate the development of new drugs and medical technologies. Sookmyung Women's Univers April 17, 2026

AI unsettles game workforce in Korea as industry peaks out SEOUL, April 16 (AJP) - The artificial intelligence scare has caught up with the game industry, once a top career choice for software programmers in South Korea, with as many as three in four feeling threatened by the new technology in a sector now past its heyday. A survey of 1,078 unionized employees at major publishers including Nexon, NC and Netmarble found that 77.3 percent were anxious about their jobs, according to results presented Wednesday at a National Assembly policy for April 16, 2026